Nineteen-year-old Raegan First Rider from the Kainai Nation was named the 2026 Calgary Stampede First Nations Princess in a ceremony Sunday afternoon. First Rider was one of seven contestants in this year’s competition. Shortly after being crowned First Rider said, “I feel every emotion right now. I feel overjoyed, I feel proud – I don’t think there’s a word for it. This means the world to me. I had lots of inspiration from back home – my mom and my father have always told me to liyika’kimaat, which means try hard, and every day I wake up, I strive to try my hardest. I’m so glad I did this job well.” First Rider is a Jingle Dress dancer from Kainai Nation whose Blackfoot name, is Isspitapoyi, meaning Stands Tall. She loves working with young children and has hopes of becoming an elementary school teacher. As the Calgary Stampede First Nations Princess, First Rider will represent the Stampede and her Kainai community while empowering youth, sharing her culture through dance, and serving as a dedicated ambassador and role model. She also plans to spend her reign advocating for missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls. “I just want to be able to be a voice for my people and as a whole, I want to fight for everyone and make sure everyone’s voice is heard, no matter how far, no matter how small. I want, not only to represent Treaty Seven as a whole, but as a First Nation person, I want to be able to have everybody’s voice heard, and I want to travel far and touch the souls of many. “For 60 years, the First Nations Princess program has provided a global platform for young women from Treaty 7 First Nations to showcase their rich culture,” says Erin Shirley, Chair, First Nations Events Committee. “As an ambassador for the Calgary Stampede, this prestigious role highlights the integral relationship between the Stampede and the Treaty 7 First Nations. We are delighted to welcome Raegan First Rider as the 2026 First Nations Princess and look forward to her contributions during her reign.” First Rider will act as ambassador of the Calgary Stampede alongside the 2026 Calgary Stampede Princess, who will be crowned later this week. Their reigns officially starting on January 1, 2026, through to December 31, 2026, they will attend hundreds of events over the course of the year, including during The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth, sharing and celebrating the Stampede’s Western heritage, cultures and community spirit, while benefiting from professional and personal development. The 2026 Calgary Stampede will take place from July 3rd to 12th. With files from CTV News Calgary’s Drew Miller
